Wondering if cigarettes are vegan and if vegans smoke? Then you've come to the right place! Vegans tend to be a little more environmentally and health-conscious. And I always advise them to do so for health, ecological and, last but not least, financial reasons, to stop smoking. Of course, this doesn't stop many vegans from lighting up regularly. However, they need to take a closer look when choosing their cigarettes.
In this short article, I'll show you why not all cigarettes are vegan and which brands are suitable for an animal-friendly lifestyle. Let's go!
Why cigarettes are not always vegan
Even though tobacco is a product that obtained from the hardened leaves of the tobacco plant and the paper is usually made from plant-based cellulose such as wood, hemp or flax rice, only very few cigarette brands are suitable for vegans. Here are the four main reasons why:
Hemoglobin
Occasionally, haemoglobin is used in the manufacture of cigarette filters. Haemoglobin is a blood pigment contained in the red blood cells of vertebrates and is generally used in the manufacture of cigarette filters. Obtained from pig blood is used. The substance is supposed to filter harmful substances out of the cigarette smoke - but ensures that, strictly speaking, the cigarettes in question are neither vegan nor even vegetarian.
Shellac
Shellac is occasionally found as an adhesive in cigarettes. The substance is made from rubber varnish, which is from the excretions of the paint scale insect Kerria lacca is obtained after sucking on certain plant species.
Animal testing
Animal testing is in the tobacco industry Unfortunately, this is still common practice today. In cruel processes, monkeys, dogs, rats, hamsters, mice and many other laboratory animals are used for this purpose. forced to inhale cigarette smoke for several hours at a time or for weeks, months and even yearsalthough they actually try to avoid it.
Cigarette butt
Many smokers have the habit of Butt after smoking into the environment to throw. But Toxins such as nicotine or arsenic can be eaten by animals. One cigarette alone can also contaminate several liters of water.₁ All the more reason for vegans to give up smoking or at least use a mobile ashtray to use.
Treatment of secondary diseases
Cigarette smoking causes serious diseases, such as cancer, lung disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, the treatments for which often involve Medication for which animal testing is carried out.
Tip: The end of the Cruelty to animals for cigarettes is just one of many Benefits of quitting smoking! In the linked article you can find out what else should motivate you!
So vegans don't smoke?
Yes, they do, but probably only a small proportion of them. For one thing, the tobacco industry has so far only launched a few animal-free cigarette brands on the market, and for another, vegans generally tend to be more environmentally and health-conscious, even if Vegans in and of themselves are of course not better people are! So if you want to continue smoking while living a vegan lifestyle, simply light up a vegan cigarette in future.
Which cigarette brands are vegan?
Of course I hope that you will stop smoking. But if you "really can't" quit smoking at the moment, you should of course at least smoke vegan cigarettes.
Here I would like to provide you with a small list of appropriate brands where you can be relatively sure that their cigarettes are without animal ingredients and also without Animal testing get by:
- West
- Davidoff
- Gauloises
- Manila
- Brookfield
- Black Hawk
- Dockers
- JBR
- Red Bull
- Denim
- Allure
- Route 66
- Turner
- …
These brands are currently not vegan!
To be on the safe side, I would also like to mention a few cigarette brands that are currently Not suitable for vegans are:
- Samson
- Lucky Strike
- Westpoint
- Winchester
- Camel
- Chesterfield
- Optima
- Boston
- Kent
- Memphis
- Dunhill
- Pall Mall
- …
Unfortunately, non-vegan brands are currently still clearly in the majority. That's why it's good that you, as a "smoking vegan", are reassuring yourself in this article 🙂
Vegans are also allowed to smoke certain cigarettes if they want to
Just because some cigarettes are vegan doesn't make them healthier! So it's best to avoid them altogether to protect your health and the lives of animals. Whether you smoke or not, I just wanted you to know when cigarettes are vegan and when they are not.
I hope I was able to help you! Do you have any questions or suggestions about this article on vegan cigarette consumption? Then please leave me a comment below this article.
Stay healthy and animal-friendly,
PS: Next, you are welcome to read my Tips for a healthy lifestyle through! Have fun!
References:
₁ Alexander Stahr: Are cigarette butts contaminating the water?, available at https://www.wissen.de/raetsel/verseuchen-zigarettenkippen-das-wasser. [12.07.2021].
are you sure davidoff cigarettes are not tested on animals???
Hey Chandrama! Thanks for your comment. I'm pretty sure, but if you have other information let me know. In that case I will delete it from the list.
Cheers, Christoph
Hello,
is there a complete list of cigarette brands whose filters do not contain hemoglobin?
I have really searched and can not find any clear information. In the small listing above, there are Gauloises, for example. Where did you find out the info about it?
Hey Melissa! Have just times investigated, but no suitable list found -.- Give me happy to let me know if you still find, then I like to supplement it here.
Many greetings,
Christoph
Hello!
here Karen from Mexico, I read your article with great interest. But I have a question, I was not so clear why or why cigarettes contain hemoglobin.
Thanks in advance.
Hi Karen, I believe the hemoglobin is supposed to filter pollutants from tobacco smoke.
Many greetings to Mexico,
Christoph